Beverage bottle identifier

ABSTRACT

A bottle identifier tag having a body portion with an outer rim and an inner rim. The inner rim may be formed to fit around a beverage bottle neck. The bottle identifier tag may further include an identifier, which may be at least one of a design, a color, and a pattern. Using the present invention, the bottle identifier tag with a unique design, color, or, a pattern may be placed on a beverage bottle. Therefore, the user may quickly find the beverage bottle that they have been using.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/848,020, filed Dec. 21, 2012, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bottle identifier and, moreparticularly, to a tab having an identifier that may be placed on abottle.

A beverage bottle is a container used to hold water or other beveragesfor consumption. It allows an individual to transport and carry abeverage from one place to another. A beverage bottle is usually made ofplastic, glass, or metal. Beverage bottles can be either disposable orreusable. Reusable beverage bottles can also be used for liquids such asjuice, iced tea, alcoholic beverages, or soft drinks.

Currently, when multiple people keep their beverage bottles in the sameplace, such as at home, work, school, sporting events, or the like, itmay be difficult to determine which beverage bottle belongs to whom. Tocope with this, users may place sticky labels, tags that won't stay ondoring nomal use or try to mark their bottles. However, due tocondensation, labels tend to fall off and it may be difficult to writeon the bottle. Further, such methods do not use re-usable devices.

As can be seen, there is a need for an effective re-usable beverageidentifier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bottle identifier tagcomprises: a body portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and aninner rim, wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and an identifiercomprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein theidentifier is displayed from the body portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of placing aplurality of identifying tags on a plurality of beverage bottlescomprises: providing a plurality of bottle identifier tags comprising: abody portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim,wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and a plurality of identifierscomprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein theplurality of identifiers is displayed from the body portion, wherein theeach individual plurality of bottle identifier tags comprises a uniqueidentifier; and placing a first bottle identifier tag comprising a firstunique identifier onto a first bottle; and placing a second bottleidentifier tag comprising a second unique identifier onto a secondbottle, wherein the inner rim of the first bottle identifier tag and thesecond identifier tag are secured around the neck of the first bottleand the second bottle.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view demonstrating application of presentinvention to an exemplary beverage bottle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bottleidentifier tag having a body portion with an outer rim and an inner rim.The inner rim may be formed to fit around a beverage bottle neck. Thebottle identifier tag may further include an identifier, which may be atleast one of a design, a color, and a pattern. Using the presentinvention, the bottle identifier tag with a unique design, color, or, apattern may be placed on a beverage bottle. Therefore, the user mayquickly find the beverage bottle that they have been using. The bottleidentifier tag may be dishwasher safe and reusable.

The present invention may include tags having a plurality of designs,colors, and patterns that may be attached to drink bottles foridentification. The present invention may include a set of markedidentification tags that may easily slip over the neck of most twelveounce beverage bottles to easily identify which bottle is for whichuser. In certain embodiments, the present invention may utilize aroundfive color coded injection molded rubber tags that may be pushed overthe neck of the bottle. The tags may be flexible and therefore maytightly grip under the top so that the tag will not fall off of thebottle. The tags may be written on and may be reusable.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include abottle identifier tag 10. The tag 10 may include a body portion 16, witha surface 28, an outer rim 24, and an inner rim 22. The inner rim 22 mayform an opening. The inner rim 22 may be formed to fit around the neckof a bottle 12. The present invention may further include an identifier26. The identifier 26 may include a color, a design, or a pattern. Theidentifier 26 may be displayed on the surface 28 of the body portion 16.

The identifier 26 of the present invention may be painted, printed orthe color of the material used to make the bottle identifier tag 10. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, each bottle identifier tag 10 may haveits own unique identifier 26. For example, the identifier 26 may includea plurality of patterns and colors. The colors may include but are notlimited to, green, purple, blue, orange, yellow, and the like. Theidentifier 26 may be used to easily and quickly identify which bottlebelongs to which user.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a tab20. The tab 20 may extend from the body portion 16 and may be used tohold and grip the bottle identifier tag 10. Further, the tab 20 may bean empty space in which business logos and names, sports logos, playernumbers, advertisements or the like may be displayed. In certainembodiments, the outer rim 24 may be substantially round at the bodyportion 16 and may form a pair of corners at the tab 20.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may be made of a polymer.The polymer may be a stretchable polymer so that the bottle identifiertag 10 may be stretched to fit over the bottle cap and snuggly fit onthe bottle neck 14 of the bottle 12. For example, the stretchablepolymer may be a type of rubber. The present invention may be made byinjection with a thermoplastic elastomer finish.

A method of placing a plurality of identifying tags on a plurality ofbeverage bottles may include the following. A plurality of bottleidentifier tags mentioned above may be provided. Each identifier tag mayinclude a unique identifier, such as, but not limited to, a design,color, and pattern. A first bottle identifier having a first uniqueidentifier may be placed over the neck of a first bottle. A secondbottle identifier having a second unique identifier may be placed overthe neck of the second bottle. Therefore, a user owning either the firstbottle or the second bottle may identify their unique identifier andknow that the bottle is theirs. The beverage bottle may be a sodabottle, water bottle, juice bottle, beer bottle, or the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottle identifier tag comprising: a bodyportion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein theinner rim forms an opening; and an identifier comprising at least one ofa color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the identifier is displayedfrom the body portion.
 2. The bottle identifier tag of claim 1, furthercomprising a tab extending from the body portion.
 3. The bottleidentifier tag of claim 2, wherein the outer rim is substantially roundat the body portion, and comprises a pair of corners forming the tab. 4.The bottle identifier of claim 1, wherein the tag is made of astretchable polymer.
 5. The bottle identifier tag of claim 4, whereinthe stretchable polymer is rubber.
 6. The bottle identifier tag of claim1, wherein the identifier is a color comprising at least one of green,purple, blue, orange, and yellow.
 7. A method of placing a plurality ofidentifying tags on a plurality of beverage bottles comprising:providing a plurality of bottle identifier tags comprising: a bodyportion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein theinner rim forms an opening; and a plurality of identifiers comprising atleast one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the plurality ofidentifiers is displayed from the body portion, wherein the eachindividual plurality of bottle identifier tags comprises a uniqueidentifier; and placing a first bottle identifier tag comprising a firstunique identifier onto a first bottle; and placing a second bottleidentifier tag comprising a second unique identifier onto a secondbottle, wherein the inner rim of the first bottle identifier tag and thesecond identifier tag are secured around the neck of the first bottleand the second bottle.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pluralityof bottle identifier tags further comprises a tab extending from thebody portion.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of bottleidentifier tags are made of a stretchable polymer.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the stretchable polymer is rubber.